KidsOutdoors

Event Started: 24/02/2008 - 20:52

Event Finished: 06/03/2008 - 20:52

Location: Giants Hole, Castleton, Derbyshire

Attendees: 5

On Sunday 24th February, 4 Scouts (Mikey, George, Charlotte and Andrew) from 2nd Quorn Scout Troop, and 1 Explorer (Ben) from QWEST Explorer Scout Unit, along with Leader Phil, set out bright and early.

The mission, to desend into the depths of the earth, via the Giants Hole, for the stage 2 caving expedition.

The journey to Castleton in Derbyshire took 90 minutes, including a slight delay over getting Andrew out of bed (A Scout oversleeping!!).

The party arrived at the designated meeting point, in Hope, and met caving leader, Uncle Paul, and fellow instructors Quintin and James. After brief hellos, the party followed to the car park on the farm, the start point of the journey underground.

After a full safety briefing, the party donned the helmets (with safely stowed emergency Mars bars) and safety kit, and set off, into the howling breeze. A short walk led to the entrance into the cave, and the group entered into the darkness (Leader Phil chickened out and remaind in the nice warm minibus).

The cave was dark, cold, muddy and wet. Initially the group had to climb up, but then desended, into the unknown. The group then spent the next hour crawling, climbing and walking in the darkness, with only their head torches for light, going further and deeper underground. This was inter mixed with the interesting "geology" bits on formations, rock types etc.

George decided to shower in the underground waterfall, to save the need to wash his kit!!. Not many Scouts can claim to have had a cold shower, hundreds of feet underground, in the dark

The group then headed back to the surface, in time for lunch, and a chance to eat their emergency Mars bars.

Big thanks to Uncle Paul, James and Quintin.

Wicked!